Plato on Justice Flashcards
Guide Questions
What is Plato’s idea of Justice?
EXPLAIN
Guide Questions
How does the Ideal Republic embody the idea of justice?
EXPLAIN
Guide Questions
Why does the Republic prohibit social mobility?
EXPLAIN
Real name: Aristocles
He claimed that he was a student of Socrates.
Plato
Was nicknamed _____________ because of his broad shoulders, sturdy build, and because of his wrestling prowess.
Platon
However, the existence of __________ is difficult to prove. There are speculations that Plato used __________ as a mouth-piece for Plato’s thoughts.
Socrates
They also turn towards the discussion of what ought to be given to friends and what ought to be delivered to their enemies: good and evil. EXPLAIN.
A soldier in war (how you repel the enemy) – the purpose of profession gives itself just.
This means to say that good is seen when a man is sick and a physician can heal that man, steer a vessel in the sea, or perhaps even bring harm to enemies in times of war. (EXPLAIN)
EXPLAIN
In other words, a ruler that is not acting on the idea of being a ruler, is an ___________________.
incompetent ruler
_________ happens when one is put into their places or roles.
Justice
Thus, justice is served, when people are put in their right place and nothing else but their right roles.
A soldier whose task is to protect and expand the territory of the state has no business in instructing the people in the fine arts nor do they have the business of establishing the law.
Putting people in their rightful places.
To this, Socrates replies that justice is a __________. If you are paid to dispense justice, then you are corrupting justice.
virtue
This discussion turns to the idea of ______________ and _______________ in the state. Just like the organs of the body, the state ought to function by complementing one another into an organic unity.
intentionality; purpose
This brings into discussion the issue of motivation. Is the ruler motivated to rule because of money, honor, and power?
To answer the issue of the ruling, Socrates provides the consequence of dismissing the roles assigned to them.
The matter of _______________ is considered irrelevant in the Ideal Republic. Since citizens complement each other’s roles in society, the element of “earning” or “profiting” from their role is dismissed.
compensation
The idea of ___________ revolves around the idea that every citizen should function in their appropriate places.
injustice
Justice ought to be given– to _______, to ________, to your ___________, etc.
self, others, profession
A ruler is not motivated by the amount of wealth, honor, or power bestowed upon the position, but rather, rules voluntarily because of the fear that someone else that is worse than him takes the place.
_________ are considered as the “head” of the Republic, they are charged with the task of creating laws and governing the citizens.
Rulers
The __________ or the ___________ are the heart of the state, they defend and expand the territory of the state.
Guardians; Soldiers
The ___________________ are in charge of providing for the needs of the citizens. They are considered as the “stomach” of the state.
workers and traders
__________ are also part of the Ideal Republic
Slaves
The Ideal Republic thrives on fixed social roles and the lack of social mobility.
Once a citizen is assigned to a task or a role, the citizen serves that role for the rest of his or her life.
Women are considered as __________ in the Republic.
equals
Are there individual family units in the Ideal Republic? Why or why not?
For the purpose of equality and fairness, the practice of having individual family units is abolished. This is to eliminate nepotism in the Republic. The republic is in itself a single-family unit.
Reproduction is regulated by the Republic. Why?
To avoid nepotism.
Social mobility is prohibited. Why?
The reason behind this is that the role ought to be perfected and served in the entirety of one’s lifetime.
The life of the Republic is highly controlled, excesses are often _____________. The arts are only allowed if it serves a ______________ purpose of motivating the citizens to focus on their assigned roles.
discouraged; utilitarian
The Ideal Republic thrives on social order, hence, there is a very strong emphasis on ____________ and ______________.
control; regulation
The division of labor might serve the purpose of the state, however, it might run into conflict with individual _____________ and _____________.
freedom; desires
Despite this, some of the points of the Ideal Republic are useful in the assessment of current societies. Social order has a price, and that is usually paid in terms of ____________.
freedom
Also considering the circumstances of the Republic, without ___________, the entire social organization of the citizens is impossible. Someone will have to tend to manual labor for the republic to work.
slavery
Ruling is not just about controlling people, it’s about providing for them and making systems where these people can thrive. Because if not, what is the sense of ruling?
For Socrates, why would you let someone incompetent rule if you can do it better?
In this sense, justice is considered as a __________ and the unjust is a ___________. The unjust is a state wherein something or someone inappropriate is placed within society.
virtue; vice
In other words, it is the equivalent of placing into power a man that is ___________ of ruling.
incapable
Justice for Socrates then relies on the idea of order.
In a society where everyone is put in the right place, order prevails, and ___________ is served.
justice
In the Ideal Republic, the concept of justice is established when citizens perfect themselves in their assigned __________ and____________.
roles and function
On the contrary, ___________ is seen when something is out of order in terms of their needs and purposes. For example, an actor assigned as a ruler, is a form of injustice because they have not been trained to rule.
injustice
Justice, according to Socrates, relies on the __________________________, meaning that by focusing the energy of its citizens to a goal or an end that they were made for, they can contribute to the harmony of the state and are free from vices.
simplicity of social roles
The Ideal Republic consists of ___________ and ___________.
Citizens and Slaves
Citizens are trained at an early age to serve three roles in the state: the ________, the ________, and the __________.
the ruler, the soldier, and the trader.
___________ are given the task of providing labor, specifically, producing raw materials and servicing the citizens.
Slaves
The three types of citizens are selected at a very _____________. Children are then segregated to their training facilities where they are taught for the rest of their life how to perform their duties.
early age
Citizens are trained according to the ____________ that they possess.
virtues
What is the noble lie in the Ideal Republic?
In the Ideal Republic, they have to generate a myth that when a person is born, they possess a certain metal. These metals represent a type of citizen. They are aware that this is a lie. A lie that is essential to ensure that everyone is dedicated to their role.
